Sonny Hayes
Brownlow Medallist
This is one of the worst takes I have seen in this thread and I’ve seen plenty.
Smith has thrown his wicket away countless times batting with the tail after his batting line up failed him for the thousandth time.
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Test The Ashes Fourth Test December 26-30 1000hrs @ The MCG
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Smith has thrown his wicket away countless times batting with the tail after his batting line up failed him for the thousandth time.
Sonny Hayes
Brownlow Medallist
Marnus made 2 50’s this series, McSweeney got dropped for a guy who had a big impact on us winning the Boxing Day test.
His hard call on McSweeney was the right one
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The "unplayable" pitch on full display - Khawaja got a good one, Smith left a gap bigger than the entrance to the new train tunnels - everyone else - yeah the pitch was unplayable
Outside of Khawaja, the other 3 players with massive question in the top 7 aren't old. If England was going to win a Test in decades, it was always against this top 7 batting line up especially having already won the Series 3-0.
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sr36
TheBrownDog
I think we won this series because England hadn't done their homework. They hadn't been watching and realised that Aussie pitches now seam. So they came with a plan to bang it into the pitch and just bowled far too short for 3 tests.
Ben Duckett's life, although to be fair at his size he might only need half a pint for blood-alcohol to reach two day bender status
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Before and After. Says it all, really.
sherb
Hall of Famer
That was a very ordinary shot by Smith - that ball could have been defended quite adequately.
There are very few dismissals in there that are anything but average batting.
But yeah, the pitch..............
Horrible game both at the ground and on TV. Yes the curator has a lot to answer for but the lack of application from most batsmen was concerning. They may as well have played it at 7pm and called it the big bash.
The cricket world rejoices as Baz retains his job. Nobody will remember this one a dead rubber with some of the all time worst shot making on display. England were slightly better overall but there was nothing skilful about the victory.
The cricket world rejoices as Baz retains his job. Nobody will remember this one a dead rubber with some of the all time worst shot making on display. England were slightly better overall but there was nothing skilful about the victory.
sr36
TheBrownDog
No one was hitting that Smith ball. It was unplayable. With his foot further across he would have been out LBW rather than bowled. DRS has changed things. You've got to hit that ball and can't rely on the benefit of the doubt saving you anymore
Black Diamond
Sleight of Hand
When we do produce a bad pitch it doesn’t necessarily favour us.
We have also produced bad pitches distinctly against our interests eg SCG last year.
We have also produced bad pitches distinctly against our interests eg SCG last year.
smasha
It's Time!
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Benny has a shot of mid strength and he’s pissed as nannas mattress
Matthew Jelley
Club Legend
At least this series has shown there is depth and ongoing options for pace bowlers
Really need to work out what the batting lineup will look like for a big run of matches coming up
September/October ‘26 - SA 3 tests Away
December/January ‘26, ‘27 - NZ 4 tests Home
January/February ‘27 - India 5 tests Away
March ‘27 - Bangladesh 2 tests Home
March ‘27 - England 1 test Home
June/July ‘27 - England 5 tests Away
What could it look like, will need a reliable and diverse group of players to pick from
Really need to work out what the batting lineup will look like for a big run of matches coming up
September/October ‘26 - SA 3 tests Away
December/January ‘26, ‘27 - NZ 4 tests Home
January/February ‘27 - India 5 tests Away
March ‘27 - Bangladesh 2 tests Home
March ‘27 - England 1 test Home
June/July ‘27 - England 5 tests Away
What could it look like, will need a reliable and diverse group of players to pick from
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The issue isn’t the pitches it’s just Gen Z playing test cricket. 5 days pay for 2 days work seems fair.
sr36
TheBrownDog
MCG and WACA they got the timing wrong - they were a day and a half out with their preparation - those pitches were going to flatten out and become ok for batting.
The Indian ones were designed to be turners from day 1 and then deteriorate from there.
philreich
TheBrownDog
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You may be right there. But the fact remains that Labuschagne averaged 20.84 in 2025 - the lowest average for an Australian top 6 batsman since John Dyson in 1981. It's even worse for a number 3. How long do we continue with him if his form doesn't improve?
sr36
TheBrownDog
The bowling depth is old.
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Don't forget the all important Test against Afghanistan in July-August 2026
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I was really looking forward to getting out in the yard today with the Test on the radio, and then coming in for a beer and watching the final session… y’know, the 3rd day of a Test during my summer break before heading back to work next Monday. Too much to ask for I know.
McSweeney may well have been in the frame to replace him if he hadn't done his ankle in the BBL.
Matthew Page has had a press conference about the pitch and all you can say about his comments is "what a load of absolute balderdash". Grounds keepers have had four years to get this pitch right for the biggest Test Match in Ashes history....which it was! Nobody really cares what the pitch was like last year or the year before or next year for that matter! When you have 90,000plus people attending the first two days of an Ashes Test and all of a sudden it's over with three days to go questions will be on going for sometime! 3 months since the last AFL game, 6 weeks now since AC/DC played, they goofed on this one big time! It's going to be beautiful weather in Melbourne for the next three days and we will have NO cricket!
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